Haldia Naval Base to Counter China’s Growing Presence
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Kolkata
- Jan 10, 2026
- 707
The Indian Navy is set to establish a new naval base at Haldia in West Bengal as part of a strategic push to strengthen India’s maritime posture in the northern Bay of Bengal, amid growing Chinese naval activity and evolving regional security dynamics involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.
According to defence sources cited by India Today, the upcoming facility will function as a naval detachment rather than a full-fledged command, enabling rapid deployment of small warships and high-speed attack craft to enhance surveillance, coastal security, and operational readiness in the region.
The Navy will utilise the existing Haldia Dock Complex to fast-track operationalisation of the base with minimal additional infrastructure. In the initial phase, a dedicated jetty will be constructed, along with essential shore-support facilities to sustain naval operations.
Officials said the base will house around 100 officers and sailors, underscoring its role as a compact yet strategically vital installation. Located nearly 100 kilometres from Kolkata, Haldia provides direct access to the Bay of Bengal, bypassing the time-intensive navigation through the Hooghly River and allowing quicker maritime response.
The Haldia detachment will deploy Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) and 300-ton New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC), capable of speeds ranging between 40 and 45 knots. Designed for rapid-response missions, these platforms can carry 10 to 12 personnel and will be tasked with coastal patrols, anti-infiltration operations, port security, and special missions.
The vessels will be armed with CRN-91 guns and are expected to be equipped with loitering munition systems such as the indigenous Nagastra, significantly enhancing their surveillance, strike precision, and asymmetric warfare capabilities.
The move aligns with the Navy’s broader force expansion and modernisation programme. In 2024, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of 120 fast interceptor craft and 31 NWJFACs to bolster India’s coastal and littoral defence framework.
Defence experts note that while India already maintains the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam and a major strategic presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a forward naval detachment in the northern Bay of Bengal fills a critical operational gap. Land at Haldia had been identified for naval use years ago, but construction had remained pending until now.
The base assumes heightened importance amid the expanding footprint of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the Indian Ocean Region. Analysts also point to increased Chinese defence and infrastructure cooperation with Bangladesh, alongside Beijing’s long-standing military partnership with Pakistan, as key drivers behind the Navy’s decision.
Additionally, the shallow waters and dense maritime traffic along the India–Bangladesh coastline make fast, agile vessels particularly effective for countering infiltration, smuggling, and illegal maritime movements—threats that have grown in complexity in recent years.
With the establishment of the Haldia naval base, India signals a decisive step toward reinforcing maritime dominance in the Bay of Bengal and safeguarding its eastern seaboard against emerging regional and extra-regional security challenges.